Happy Birthday!

Today was a day of celebration! On this perfect Spring day, our two lovely daughters celebrated their birthdays. Clare turned 6 and Dorothy turned 4. My Mom and I frosted dozens of cupcakes for the girls to take to their classes today and the girls put the finishing touches on them.


There were scones for breakfast in keeping with our family tradition.




During breakfast, the girls opened a few gifts from their grandparents who live in West Virginia: sunglasses, necklaces, art supplies other goodies.





Then the familiar ring, ring of Skype and the girls got to talk with Daddy! They were thrilled to show them their new things and to receive his loving birthday wishes.



Dorothy went to preschool where she got to be the Special Helper, line leader and all sort of other privileges that come with being the birthday girl. I went to the school and enjoyed the party (of course, without my camera). Dorothy enjoyed passing out napkins to her classmates, helping to clean up afterward, and passing out the little gifts we brought to give to each child. Then we went outside to swing and play and enjoy the gorgeous day.

Clare took her cupcakes to her workshop day at charter school and shared them with her kindergarten classmates. She said everyone kept calling her "Birthday girl" all day. I asked her if it embarrassed her and she said, no, it only annoyed her after a while :).

After school we took our dog for a walk and played until it was time to get gussied up to go out to the Spaghetti Factory with Grandma. A dear friend came by and took a picture of me and the girls ready to head out (Stephen happily declined to get gussied up and instead went in his shorts and tee shirt).


Dorothy wore her birthday crown from preschool, so she really stood out. The girls opened up their gifts from Grandma (Barbies and books) and me and Daddy (beautiful dresses and shoes to match). My ever-thoughtful Mom even brought Stephen some gifts (a book and Star Wars figurines).






We had a delicious dinner and were blessed with a great waiter. The young man had recently returned from a year in Iraq. He was a thoughtful, courteous and generous guy and he really made the girls feel special. When I told him that Liam is in Afghanistan, he said that he thinks we who stay at home have the harder job (he has been married for 2 years, 1 of those he spent in Iraq). I am not sure about that, but it was nice to be recognized.

The kids stayed up a bit too late playing with their new things and my little now four-year old fell into bed and was asleep in seconds. Clare said, as I tucked her in, that this had been a great birthday.

Thanks be to God!